Long-term soft drinks production contract to create dozens of jobs
International food and drink group, Princes, has signed a partnership agreement with Capri-Sun Group Holding AG, to produce over 250 million Capri-Sun juice pouches annually at the group’s production facility in Bradford.
It follows a recent move from Capri-Sun to bring sales and distribution in-house after a long-term relationship with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP).
To meet increased demand, the Princes contract with Capri-Sun will involve a transfer of four production lines from CCEP to Princes Bradford, creating around 50 to 60 new jobs in the area.
Production will begin in autumn 2024, with all lines set to be fully operational by spring 2025.
To ensure a smooth transition from CCEP, Princes has already started supporting Capri-Sun with warehousing and logistics services.
Princes will be co-packing two Capri-Sun formats: 200ml pouches with paper straws and 330ml pouches with a screw cap.
As part of the transition, Capri-Sun is moving to recyclable pouches and also introducing tethered caps on the 330ml pouches, reducing packaging waste by 14%, to support its ambition of becoming the UK’s most sustainable children’s soft drinks brand.
Bradford is Princes Group’s largest soft drinks production site in the UK, with around 400 staff and eight production lines for dilutes, carbonates and ready-to-drink products.
The site is also a producer of customer own brand carbonated soft drinks and ready-to-drink small bottles.
Capri-Sun Group Holding AG is a privately held company (owned by Hans-Peter Wild) that encompasses Capri-Sun, the top kids drink brand worldwide. Capri-Sun was launched in 1969 and now sells more than six billion pouches in over 100 countries every year.
Andy Hargraves, group commercial director for Drinks at Princes, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing Capri-Sun pouches to Bradford – the new UK home of this iconic and much-loved brand.
“Establishing this partnership is a significant milestone in the continued growth of our drinks business, creating around 50 to 60 new job opportunities in the local area.
“Princes is looking forward to partnering with Capri-Sun to support their ambitions now, and in the future.”
Stefan Seiss at Capri-Sun Group Holding AG, added: “We are very excited to go into this collaboration between Princes and Capri-Sun.
“Over the last months the supply chain and engineering departments were working very closely together to prepare the transition of the production lines into the Bradford site.
“It is great to see that the expertise and the positive attitude on both sides will deliver a new production setup to fulfil the demand and the quality to support the growth of Capri-Sun in Great Britain.”
